- Chapter 4 -

The sun rose with blazing ferocity Friday morning, heating the rooftops first thing. After her usual morning duties, and after Miss Compton had disappeared to the garden conservatory attached to the back of the castle, Katherine ironed and cleaned Saturday's ball gowns. She had chosen a simple creme chiffon for herself - hoping to blend in and avoid notice when the time came. Dread weighed on her. I must find something to take my attention from this ball nonsense she thought desperately I shall ask the Baroness her favorite flowers and have them gathered for her room! Superlative idea Kat! She commended herself; and hurried to find direction to the conservatory. Upon receiving said direction she arrived at her destination without difficulty and was immediately struck with immeasurable awe.

It was far larger than she imagined, with even a few trees reaching up towards the domed glass ceiling above. A small winding creek flowed lazily out of sight behind thick foliage; and beside it, for a short way, a cobblestone path slithered over the ground, randomly splitting and looping over itself around fountains and statues draped in vines. The colors were overwhelming! So many of the plants and flowers that caught her attention were obviously native to some exotic place, far, far from cold and rainy England.

Hot and humid though it was in this great glass cathedral, it was now, without question, Katherine's new favorite place. She passed a hand before her face as if waking from a trance, recalling her original purpose in coming, and went in search of her employer, who she eventually found chatting with a gardener. Kat waited close by, not wanting to interrupt.

"Katherine! Come!" The Baroness of Rosforte waved her over not a minute later "I was going to ring for you as soon as I was through here. Your timing is impeccable." Katherine came. "I have heard, from some dear friends of mine, that you are a close companion of their daughter Eliza. I'm perfectly flummoxed by how we didn't make the connection beforehand. In any case, I've invited her over for biscuits this afternoon - here in the conservatory - so, naturally, you are to join us as her friend."

"Oh thank you Miss Compton, I have missed her company terribly! What an exciting prospect! You really are most generous! You will be wanting to change into something suitable for company?"

The Baroness crinkled her nose "I suppose I should, but it is such a bother changing so often in a day! Let's not! No one will know but you and I!"

"And the gardener." Katherine laughed.

"Pish Tosh, he shan't tell. Come let us choose a place for tea!"

"I saw an enchanting little pond with cushioned seating nearby?"

"Ah yes! The butterfly pond, I know exactly where that is! Good taste my dear! What time is it?"

"It is just twenty minutes past three Miss Compton."

"What?? Then 'tis good you came to find me! Our Miss Ritewood is set to arrive at half past!"

Kat raised her brows "I will tell butler where to find us then, please make yourself comfortable m'lady!" She hurried to complete her task. A task, as it turned out, she needn't complete; for she met Lily as the butler let her through the front doors.

"Kat, hello!" Eliza stretched forth her hands to be clasped.

"Lily! Miss Compton is waiting for you, how lovely to see you; it's been weeks!"

"Well not quite weeks surely, but one at the very least." Her friend laughed as they locked arms and strolled to the conservatory.

"You've been to the conservatory before I assume, since you are friends with the Baroness?" Katherine sighed happily "It is quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen!"

"I agree, but Kat dear," Lily started, focused completely on Katherine's apparel. "You look divine! Baroness Compton must really have taken a liking to you for her to prepare for you such a wardrobe!"

Katherine looked down at the gown she was wearing with a blush. "Yes, it is far better quality than anything I've ever owned. Is it really so very fine? She said she had all her ladys' maids dress so."

"Well not on a daily basis, only when in town; at home they have uniforms same as any other abigail."

"She had no uniform made for me..."

"She must have a plan we are not privy to then; maybe she has a particular suitor planned for you and is preparing you to be a lady." Eliza laughed joyously at the thought.

"What a daunting idea!" Kat laughed with her. "I shall not be part of her apparently notorious matchmaking games! Now hush lest she hear us, we have arrived!"

☆☆☆

The subject of Brandon Routley was apparently not one to be avoided, much to Katherine's distress. They'd not had more than a couple tarts each before the Baroness entered him into their conversation about the upcoming ball.

"I've a feeling Bianca Routley is setting up the event as an opportunity for her son to meet a future bride. She is infamous in her quest to find him a respectable young lady of means."

"I dare say, he doesn't seem to comply much with her efforts." Lily commented with a tone of quiet derision "I have heard decidedly conflicting reports on his behavior of late; though knowing the ladies who report to me, I am inclined to believe the worst of him."

Baroness Compton raised a brow with a smile "Why Eliza, I've never considered you one to believe the worst of anyone! Although I'm obliged to agree with you on that account. I've talked to many mothers in London, and a number of young girls have claimed to be victim of his rakish behavior. He certainly knows how to cover his tracks though, for the only times he's been caught in the act is when he himself is the victim."

"He certainly isn't bettering the public's opinion of our sex. He is proving us to be silly, flirtatious things!" Eliza sighed "I don't understand why all the fathers take his side instead of their daughters; he is known to gamble and take to the drink regularly, and that doesn't sound like a decent and honest young gentleman to me!"

"No." The Baroness scrunched her nose in irritation "It does not to be sure; but men will be men, it is such things that eliminated any regret I may harbor for never marrying!"

"There are a few exceptions, some men are quite decent and agreeable. If I could meet one like Katherine's brother I'm sure I could be very happy."

"Oh! John and Simon are horrid as well, they pull pranks and tease like anything!" Kat exclaimed.

"That is because you are their sister!" Eliza bristled. "But in whole, John is perfectly respectable and polite; and ambitious! Mr Routley could use some lessons on how to be a gentleman and John could school him well!"

"Mhmm. It nearly sounds as though you fancy him..." Miss Compton leaned forward with a cat-like grin, matchmaking senses tingling.

"Good Gracious no! I was merely using him as an example!" Eliza corrected hastily, looking flustered. "But we are straying from the subject, we are speaking of the Routley ball!"

Katherine and Eliza had conversed on the subject of Brandon Routley's new character in great length and on multiple occasions. The events of nearly two years before still weighed heavily on Katherine's passionate heart, when she allowed herself to think of them; but neither of the girls had hearts bitter and vengeful enough to hate him for how he had used them both.

Eliza pitied him for the spoiled and pampered upbringing that raised him to act like a boy when life didn't go his way - spiteful and dramatic - and missed the playful young man he had been before bitterness had consumed him.

Kat knew little of his upbringing and lifestyle, and could only continue to love the man she once knew, despite the character he now showed to the rest of the world.

"I believe," the Baroness continued with humor in her tone "Bianca Routley mentioned it would be ideal if her son were to make a match with a Ritewood girl. What fun it will be for us to watch that woman try and attach her delinquent son to our sensible Eliza tomorrow night, will it not Miss Wheaton?"

Katherine smiled shakily, and felt as though she might go pale. What fun indeed! thought she, with no small degree of sarcasm.

Eliza intervened, "Maybe for you as onlooker Miss Compton, but certainly not for me!" she laughed "I am determined to avoid them both at all costs! My what a lot of butterflies reside near this pond, what is it that attracts them so?" The Baroness then launched into an enthusiastic explanation of the types of plants surrounding this section of the conservatory as the girls exchanged a look that expressed their mental sighs of relief.

☆☆☆

The two girls walked together arm in arm along one of the well-groomed trails bordering the Rosforte Estate.

"How kind it was of Miss Compton to allow you a couple hours off with me Kat! Though I say, she isn't treating you anything like a Lady's maid."

"It is odd, and a little uncomfortable at times." Katherine agreed with her friend "Although I'm not inclined to complain. I do wonder though Lily, how was she able to obtain title of Baroness? Did she have no brothers, or uncles, boy-cousins?"

"She has a number of family members who could have inherited I have heard; but her father was very radical in his opinions our sex, and of social rank," Miss Ritewood smiled as she continued "a quality his daughter obviously shares. He didn't like the idea of his daughter being dependent on anyone other than herself, so he willed the title and everything to her. It caused quite an understandable uproar in the family I'm told."

"That makes me like her all the more!" Katherine decided, "I can only imagine the number of suitors with coins in their eyes she had after that! What a wonder that would be, to have something to your name, to be able to love whomever you wanted. You are so lucky to have a fortune Lily!"

"Gracious love!" Lily chuckled "We hardly have a fortune, although I admit we are far more comfortable than we need be. As for being lucky, it depends entirely on the who's hearts Cupid decides to pierce! Suppose I fell in love with one of your brothers? Then my fortune would work utterly against me!"

"I suppose you mean it would be too poor a match and your father wouldn't allow it."

"You understand. It is the unfortunate way of the world."

"Too true!" Katherine sighed, then added laughingly "But we shall never fear such a thing could come to pass, for you are so outstandingly beautiful and sweet tempered," She declared, making Lily blush with protestations and swat her playfully "that every eligible bachelor within miles will come falling at your feet with rings and roses next season!"

Both were laughing outright then, and Katherine chased down a fleeing Lily who was feigning shy displeasure at her friend's outrageous predictions. As the forested path turned a sharp corner, Eliza turned to face her friend who was about to catch her, and stepped backward; running solidly into the chest of a tall young man who appeared from round the bend!

"Yeep!" exlaimed Kat in surprise!

"Ouf!" cried Eliza as she hit and stumbled.

"I say! I do apologize!" he quickly caught her and pulled her upright. "I didn't see you Miss! Are you all right??"